Eastern Accord is a U.S. Army Africa
training exercise to help the U.S. and East African participants improve their
capability to respond to regional security threats.

Col. William Ward, commander, 110th MEB
of Oklahoma City, and Command Sgt. Maj. John Sportsman of Maitland, Mo., are
directing U.S. participation during Eastern Accord 2012.

“Our mission here is to conduct an
academic program and table top exercise to improve understanding of violent
extremism and share best practices to deter violent extremism in Africa,” Ward
said. “MOARNG is partnering with Tanzania Peoples Defence Force counterparts to
provide command and control for the exercise and help execute and facilitate
the table top exercise.”

The 110th MEB coordinated planning for
its part in Eastern Accord 2012 for more than a year. By partnering with the
Tanzania Peoples Defence Force and other U.S. Army Africa units, Soldiers of
the 110th MEB are gaining valuable experience working in a multi-national
environment.

“This is a very important exercise for
Soldiers of the 110th MEB. We are learning a great deal of information about
countering violent extremism and continue to sharpen our skills as
facilitators. The culminating table top exercise will allow for our Soldiers to
showcase their expertise,” Sportsman said.

Members from the 110th are performing
multiple missions during the exercise. Some of their key tasks include
Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, Integration, known as RSOI. The group is
responsible for coordinating travel to and from the United States and
inter-country travel from the seven East African countries represented.

Several 110th MEB Soldiers will remain
in Tanzania until Sept.15 to ensure all personnel return safely to their
homelands.

The Missouri National Guard has about
1,200 Soldiers and Airmen deployed in supporting various operations throughout
the United States and the world.